Armored automobile.



I E. M. BLACKSHER.

Amvroan AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT26| 191,6.

Patented June 12, 1917.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y vlll/ll/lll "l 'TIENE i77 WIT/VESSES Tron/vers srar g;y arur orme,

A EMORED AUTOMOBILE,

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 12, 1917.

Application led. September 26, 1916. Serial No. 122,240.

ventedv an Improvement in Armored Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention is an improvement 1n larmored automobiles, and has for its ob]ect to provide a device of the character specified,

wherein a protective casing. is mounted on the automobile, in such manner that the vital parts of the automobile and the occupants will be'shielded and protected, and wherein the casing carries a revoluble. turret, the casing being yieldingly connected to the frame of the automobile to yield in every direction, and wherein auxiliary supporting means 1s provided in connection with the casing ,for supporting the weight of the same andthe arms and munitions carried thereby, to relieve the frame from such weight.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved armored car.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the casing fgom the i'nside.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5f-.5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction ot the arrows adjacent to the' line.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of one of the end casing supporting wheels. F Fig. I is an enlarged detail of a portiono Fig. 8 is a section cn the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

In the'present embodiment of the invention, a casing 1. of suitable material is provided, the said casing having a rounded contour, as shown, and being modele@` as closely as consistent with the shell of a tortoise. A central opening 2 is provided in the shell or casing, and within this `opening is arranged a revolving turret 3, which may carry a gun 4, the un extending through an opening 5 in the ood-or cover 6 for the turret. This turret, as shown, consists of an inverted cup-shaped casing having a reduced portion 3 at its lower end, and the body of the turret tapers slightly, as shown, having its large end upward, and this large end is of approximately the same diameter as the opening 2 for the turret. The cover 6 `for the turret is conical or tapering, as shown, having a central opening for permitting the passage of a periscope 7, and the turret laps uponthe outer face of the casing 1 about the opening, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 8. The turret is rotated by means .of a gear wheel 8, which is secured to a stub shaft 9 journaled in an angular bracket 10 secured to the cover for the turret, and the shaft is provided with a crank 11 for permitting the 'same to be rotated from within the turret.

The pinion meshes with a series of teeth 12, which is formed on the edge of the opening 2 of the casing 1 Jfor the turret, and it will be obvious that when the pinion is rotated; the turret will be rotated from the plate 16, secured to the casing 1, and extending laterally inward therefrom. This track plate is a ring, having at its outer edge an oblique cross flange 17 which fits against the 'inner face of the casing 1 and is secured thereto, and at its inner edge the ring has an upstanding flange 18, which limits the inward movement of the wheels 14.-. Thus the turret and its contents are supported entirely by the casing 1. The gun carriage 19 is mounted on suitable supports 2O which rest upon the bottom of 'the turret, and the usual means is provided for elevating the gun and for adjusting .the same for shooting.

The casing 1 is supported Vby four side wheels and two end wheels, a pair of side wheels being arranged at each side of the casing, and an end `wheel being arranged at each end thereof. Each of the side and end wheels 21 is mounted in the arms 22 and 22L of a fork at the lower end of a journal pin 23. Each of vthese ournal pins 28 is mounted in bearings24 secured to the inner Jface of the casing 1, in such position that 'the bearings are in vertical alinement. A coil ioo the wheel downward. Thus 'the casing is .yieldingly supported by the wheels, and is cushioned against shockand jar that may be transmitted by the wheels. The only difference between the arms 22 and 22a is that the arms .22,a are cur-ved, like a caster wheel support, to permit the wheels at the ends'to swing to follow the steering of the vehicle.

A bar 27 is connected with each journal pin at its connection with the arms 22 or 22a, the said bar extending on opposite sides of the journal pin in the plane of the wheel. A coil spring 28 is arranged between each end of the arm andthe casing, one'end of each Spring being connected to the bar and the other with the casing. These springs act normally to resist outward movement of the journal pin and wheel with respect to the casing, supplementing the action of 'the spring 25. Inf addition they cushion the movement of the wheel downward with respect to the casing,'thus cushioning the rebound of thevcasing.

The casing and its connections are connected with the frame 29 of an automobile of any usual or desiredlconstruction, by means of coil springs, the springs being arranged in pairs at the sides and at the ends. Each of the springs 30 is connected at one end to an eyef31 on the casing, and at the other to an eye 32 on the frame 29 of the automobile.

As shown in Fig. 2, the springsSO at the y ends of the frame are connected with the ends of the side members of the frame, while the springs 30 at the sides are connected with the sides of the said side members. Thus the casing is yieldingly conf nected to the frame, 'to yield in every direction, while at the same time the springs tend to retain the casing in fixed and definite :re-y

lation with respect to the car upon which it is mounted.

All the weight of the armor, arms and munitions is supported by the wheels 21, bringing thus no additional strain upon the wheels 33 of the car.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 1 that a door 35 is-provided, for permitting admittance to the interior of the casing,

and it will be understood that a similar door is provided in the turret. interior of the casing is also so arranged that munitions, stores and the like may bev stored in the interior thereof, and it will be obvious that, if desired, the steering/mechanism of the vehicle might be so connected withthe front wheels as to move the [said wheels in synchronism with the steering wheels of the vehicles.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of l Washington, 1D. C.

Preferably ther In order to provide for ventilation, air chutes 36 are arranged at suitable points, said chutes being'of light metal so that if struck by a bullet or the like they w1ll be pierced without damagingthe same so armor casing tting over 'and o'utsideofl the automobile, ysaid casing having central opening inits top and a turret having a tapered protecting cover mounted' to rotatev 1n the opening, the cover extending over the.

casing at the edge of the opening, means for rotating the turret with respect to the casing, means on the casing for supporting the turret for rotation, a yielding connection b'etween the frame of the automobile andthe casing at the 4sides and endsofthe frame, wheels for supporting the casing', `said wheels .being arranged in pairs at the sides and at the ends', a journal pinfmounted to slide verticallyy on the casingat each wheel and having a fork between whose arms. the wheel is journaled, a spring normally pressing each journal pin downward, the arms'of the forks of thewheels at the endsbeing curved.

2. In combination with an automobile, an armor casing fitting over and outside of the automobile, said casing having a central opening in its top and a turret having a ta-y pered protecting cover mounted to rotate in the opening, the cover extending over the casing at the edge of the opening, means for rotating the turret withfrespect to the casing, means on the casing `for supporting the turret for rotation, a yielding connection between the frame of the automobile and the casing at the sides and ends` of the frame. Y

3. In combination with an automobile, an armor casing iittingover and outside of the automobile, a yielding connection between the frame of the automobile and the casing at the sides and ends of the frame, for supporting the casing, said wheels being arranged in pairs at thesides and at the ends, a journal pin mounted to slidey vertically on the casing `at eachwheel and vhavwheels ing a fork between whose arms the wheel is journaled, a spring normally lpressing each journal pin downward, the arms of the forks 'of the' wheels at the ends being curved.

4.1In combination with an automobile, an armor casing fitting over and outside of the automobile, and a yielding connection beyieldingly connected therewith.

ERASMUS MANFORD' BLAGKSHER.

atents, 

